IKEA is using handcrafted miniature homes in three cities to launch a new in-store experience focused on helping customers make better use of limited living space without making major expenditures.
The Swedish furniture retailer said Thursday that miniature homes have been installed in public locations in Melbourne, Chengdu and Beijing as part of the launch of IKEA open house, an in-store program running from late August through September.
The initiative comes as homes are increasingly being used for multiple purposes, including workplaces, creative studios, classrooms and living spaces. IKEA said its research through home visits and conversations with people around the world found that many people are looking for practical ways to improve their homes, while affordability can determine whether those ideas become reality.
“People usually don’t aim for the perfect home, but the one that feels easier to live in,” said Javier Quiñones, Global Commercial Manager, Ingka Group (IKEA). “We’re putting even greater focus on creating a better everyday life at home and making sure the solutions we offer are accessible and affordable.”
The miniature homes were created in partnership with Stockholm-based miniature artist Christopher Robin Nordström, known as @TokyoBuild. Each was constructed by hand at a 1:12 scale and designed to reflect the characteristics and routines of the city where it is displayed.
In Melbourne, a BILLY bookcase is featured with miniature novels and art prints, along with references to the city’s sporting culture.
In Chengdu and Beijing, METOD kitchens are among the central features of the miniature homes. IKEA said the installations are intended to demonstrate how different cultures, routines and priorities can influence the way people use their homes.
The company said the installations are a public component of the broader IKEA open house program, which is also taking place inside stores.
Visitors to participating stores can explore storage and organization products, room settings, special offers and ideas aimed at making existing living spaces more functional.
Nordström said working at miniature scale required decisions about what to include in each home.
“When you build in miniature, you can’t include everything,” said Nordström. “Every object has to earn its place. You quickly realise that a home isn’t defined by how much it contains, but by the things people choose to make room for.”
The open house experience is scheduled to continue through September, while the miniature installations in Melbourne, Chengdu and Beijing provide a public demonstration of the company’s focus on space utilization and affordability.
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